A Mammoth Difference

Pages: Page 4 of 5

Dealer: South
Vuln: Game All
Scoring: IMPs
  1. spadeK 8 7 4 2
  2. heartJ 9 3 2
  3. diamondA Q 8 2
  4. club—
  1. spadeQ 10 6 3
  2. heartQ 8
  3. diamondK J 10 9
  4. clubA Q 2
club diamond heart spade NT
N - - - - -
S - - - - -
E 1 3 - - 4
W 2 4 - 1 4
Green square in centre
  1. spadeA 9
  2. heartA K 10 4
  3. diamond6 5 4 3
  4. clubK 9 5

Contract: 2heartx
Declarer: South
Lead: heartQ
  1. spadeJ 5
  2. heart7 6 5
  3. diamond7
  4. clubJ 10 8 7 6 4 3
Double dummy analyser: makeable contracts
West North East South
Pass
1NT* 2diamond~ Dble 2heart
Pass Pass Dble Pass
Pass Pass

* 12-14
~ majors, better diamond than club

After the heartQ held, the defence won the first four trump tricks. Priday played a club to his partner's queen, who switched to the diamondJ. Declarer finessed, and played a small spade to the jack and queen. West cashed the clubA and reverted to diamonds. Declarer won the ace, but the defence took the rest for six down and a 1700 penalty.

Why would a club lead, albeit unlikely, have led to one down?

Because after all the cross ruffing, declarer would have been stuck in hand and forced to either open up the spades or lead a club to concede a ruff and discard for the defence.
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